The Sunday morning news. [volume] (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1886-1891, 1887-02-20
THE LATEST COMPLICATION.
Il RULING THAT MAY BECLOUD THK
TITLE OF THE SENAzOR ELECT.


No Ballot Taken, by Fish's Order, Yes
terday, When the United states Law
PsremptoriIy Commands That a Ballot
Shall be Taken Each Day-The Pros
emit Phase Of the Senatorial Struggle.
TRENTON, Feb. 19-[SPEo1AL] Senator
Fish, whom the excessive courtesy OF some
Democratic Senators left in the chair ON
Wednesday to preside over the Joint meet
ing, made ruling to-day that, in its effect,
may becloud the title whom the Joint meet
ing of the Legislature may finally send to
claim seat in the United States Senate.
Only four members of the Legislature
responded to their names at the roll call of
the Joint convention to-day. Fish was ON
hand, undoubtedly with no other purpose
than that of injecting new complication
into the Senatorial contest. Senator Gram
mer was also there, with Assemblvmen
Scudder and s. B. Hutchinson. The roll
call showed no quorum, and Fish refused
either to allow the minutes of yeeterday's
Joint meeting to be read or to permit a
ballot to be taken. The failure of quo
rum, he declared, precluded the posi-
bility of any business being done. Mr.
Scudder quoted the Federal law which
declares that 'If no person shall receive
majority ON the first day, the joint assem-
bly, shall meet at IL o'clock, meridian, of
each succeeding day during the session Of
tue Legislature, and shall take at least one
vote, until Senator is elected" and
warmly demanded that tallot be taken.
But Fish was determined to prevent it, and
SO ruled that it cou not be taken An
appeal from his decision would have been
fruitless, because three Of the four present
are Republicans, and even if it had been
attempted Fish would doubtless have re-
fused to entertain it. The Joint Conven-
ton was then adjourned till noon Monday.
The statute is SO mandatory that Fat
least one vote" shall be taken daily till
Senator is elected, that the failure to take
ballot to-day may leave open an oppor-
tunity to make contest before the United
States Senate against the seating OF the
man who may be eventually sent hence to
represent the State The taking of the
ballot even in the absence of quorum
| would have been very harmless diversion
indeed. The taking of it could have done
no possible harm, and as measure Of pre-
caution it was certainly advisable. But
the Republi. ans are going on tne assump-
| ton that Albeit Is 10 be the outcome of
the existing complications, AMI they are
| pursuing their settled purpose, at every
possible opportunity, Of throwing a cloud
upon his title to his seat. Fisb's
ruling to-day is the latest Republi-
can concession that Leon Abbott will
be the next Senator from New Jersey.
The position of Chairman of the Joint
Convention was awarded to Fish by the
votes of Democratic Senators who were
moved by consideration of courtesy for the
presiding officer of the body to which they
belonged Carroll had promised to vote for
| Hudspeth, as he did on the roll call: and
| his vote with the forty Democratic votes
would have given Hudspeth the chairman
! ship. The over-courteous Democratic SEN
ators were not long in coming to realizing
sense of their mistake, for in less than
half an hour after they had seated him they
were voting with all their will to sustain an
appeal from one of his monstrous rulings
To days ruling will help to sink the con
vlctlon deeper than ever into their noodles
that so inscriptions --s----.a as Fish is
entitled to no courtesy at their nanGs.
The Senatorial aspect offers no specially
new features to-day. The relative strength
of the contestants is as it was at the cast
ing of the first ballot on Wednesday last,
Baird has gone over to Ex-Governor Belle,
but without adding anything to his
strength. The ex-Governor's high charae-
| ter as man and as an official commend him
to much Democratic faver; but Baird's
| adherence to him can but hurt him. It.
d settled fact that the man whom B .ird i
known to favor must from taat single fac
! itself, expect but little favor at Democrat
| hands. I do not believe that ever
man in the State was held in such COS
tempt as men of all parties entertain for Oh
fellow who claims the distinction of Speak
er of the House of Assembly Kinney too.
has brought himself into general contempt
by his antics. Rumor has been busy with
his name ever since the session open ed, and
the general belief is, as one Democrat said
to-day, that che is SO crooked that even
his eyes are not straight" OF the Senators
and Assemblymen who have not voted for
the Democratic caucus nominee, Kinney
ard Baird are the only two to whom dis
creditable motives are attributed. Senators
Chase, Chattle and Mcbride, and Assem-
blyman ThrocAmorton are high minded
| gentlemen for whose pslitical error no sor-
did considerations are qnoted. Chase has
SAID to your correspondent that he will be
on hand for Albeit when the real emer-
| gency arises and it is believed that before
they would become responsible for the loss
of the Senatorsaip by the Democracy Of the
State, the other three gentlemen will be on
hand.
But Kinney is not TO be triad by the same
standard. / was old ths Other day in fact
that since the Sussex Assem- lyman began
his capering his son-in-law has been promo
ted from craftsmanship to CONDUCTORS
ship on the Morris 4 Essex Road, and that
that man, the son-in-law, had been offer
ing to bet literally that Albeit Will never
be Senator
The Republican minority are known to
be awaiting change in the situation of
affairs that viii make Phelrs possibly
successful candidate. The moment it
comes they will all flop over.
The Democrats of the House are to hold